Hey Congress! Cutting Food Stamps, Paying Vodka Tab Don't Mix

From VitaminWSeptember 20, 2013 - 4:55pm

Fri September 20, 2013
Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) made a case for saving the food stamp program and protecting women farmers, but she lost.
The House passed the latest version of the farm bill by a vote of 217 to 210. It cuts nearly $40 billion over the next ten years from the food stamp program, The Washington Post reported Sept. 19.
Speier in a valiant effort to save the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) reminded her colleagues that there were roughly 4,000 families on food stamps in her district. She then called out her fellow politicians for using their privilege cards while criticizing low-income mothers.
“Yet, they somehow feel like crusaders, like heroes when they vote to cut food stamps. Some of these same members travel to foreign countries under the guise of official business.” Speier then added they “dine at lavish restaurants, eating steak, vodka and even caviar,” then held up a plate of steak, a bottle of vodka, and a jar of caviar.
“One member was given $127.41 a day for food on his trip to Argentina. He probably had a fair amount of steak. Another member was given $3,588 for food and lodging during a six-day trip to Russia. He probably drank a fair amount of vodka and probably even had some caviar. That particular member has 21,000 food stamp recipients in his district. One of those people who is on food stamps could live a year on what this congressman spent on food and lodging for six days.”
Watch her in action.
Rep. Jackie Speier
food stamps
women farmers
Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program
congress
$40 Billion
low-income mothers
Hey Congress! Cutting Food Stamps, Paying Vodka Tab Don't Mix
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